On June 3, 2024, after obtaining new intelligence, the Israeli military confirmed the death of Israeli hostage Chaim Peri, 79, who was killed in Hamas captivity.
Chaim Peri, 79, a father of five and grandfather of 13, film lecturer and activist, was taken captive by Hamas terrorists from his Kibbutz Nir Oz home on October 7, during an assault on the community, when 73 members of the kibbutz were taken hostage.
He came to Kibbutz Nir Oz after he graduated high school as part of a Nahal group of the Shomer Hatzair youth movement. He was a paratrooper, who fought in four Israeli wars, and served in the military until the age of 50. After retiring from the army, Haim, who is a very creative and artistic person (writer, sculptor and filmmaker) established and managed The White House art gallery in the fields of Nir Oz, which displayed the works of a diverse range of artists. The gallery was his personal ‘pet project’, founded out of his great love of art and artist
Peri’s wife, Osnat, survived the assault. The family has said that Peri wasn’t yet confirmed as a hostage until receiving witness testimony from Yocheved Lifshitz, a neighbor who was freed from Hamas captivity, who told the family that she saw him alive and well.